National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

This October, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is commemorating its 15th year as an annual initiative to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. NCSAM 2018 is a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure every American has the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online, while increasing the resiliency of the Nation during cyber-threats. Department of Homeland Security is the federal, national lead for NCSAM. DHS also co-leads NCSAM with the National Cyber Security Alliance.

Overarching Theme

Cybersecurity is our shared responsibility and we all must work together to improve our Nation’s cybersecurity

Key Messages

Strengthen the Nation’s Cybersecurity Ecosystem
- Contribute and commit to strengthening the Nation’s Cyber Ecosystem
Tackle it Together
- Cybersecurity is a cross-cutting, cross-sector problem, so we have got to tackle it together.
Build up the Cybersecurity Workforce
- Increase and strengthen the cybersecurity workforce across all sectors.
Secure Critical Infrastructure from Cyber Threats
- Heighten resilience and understand how to best protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats.

Quick Tips To Make You Safer and More Secure

Keep a Clean Machine
Having the latest security software, web browser, apps, and operating system is the best defense against viruses, malware, and other online threats. Remember, mobile phones, tablets, and smart home devices need updating too!

Lock Down Your Login
Enable the strongest authentication tools available for your online accounts, such as biometrics or a unique one-time code through an app on your mobile device. This security feature is also available on accounts such as email, banks, and social media.

Back It Up
Put in place a system – either in the cloud or via separate hard drive storage – that makes electronic copies of the vital information on a regular basis. Remember to make regular backups of all your docs, files and photos too.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
Now more than ever, employees are using their personal smart devices – such as PCs and smartphones – for work purposes. It’s important to consider where sensitive company, customer and/or employee data is being accessed.

When in Doubt, Throw it Out
Whether during working hours or in your personal time, remember not to open suspicious links in email, tweets, posts, online ads, messages or attachments – even if you know the source.

Safer For Me, More Secure For All
No individual, business or government is solely responsible for securing the internet. When we each use the internet safely, we make it more secure for everyone.